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Ill: Perrspectives


Bush proclaims "National Character Counts Week"


















Demon Princess enjoys nothing about this Administration so much as its really entertaining flair for unintentional irony, as in today's news direct from the White House Department of "you must be dreaming ~ grand & meaningless hyperbole" ~

"Our changing world requires virtues that sustain our democracy, make self-government possible, and help build a more hopeful future. National Character Counts Week is an opportunity to recognize the depth of America's character and appreciate those who pass on our values to future generations.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15 through October 21, 2006, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH"

(Title bar to see the official White House Proclamation.)

The horror, the horror, er, *I mean* the irony, the irony.

Need I remind anybody really that in recent news, all we've heard is the GOP, the party of "personal responsibility," & friends to "values voters," & now "character," frantically, desperately clutching at straws, so as not to appear that they have nothing to say about the domestic & international scandals that threaten to swamp their brave little boats?

Instead they've filled the airwaves & news media with loud, frantic & hysterical blather blaming Bill Clinton & the Democrats for all their woes: the Foley scandal & North Korea as well as 9/11.

Soon we'll be hearing that Democrats are to blame for the 'cons lack moral fiber in matters ranging from Jack Abramoff's influence peddling to Tom DeLay and Bob Ney--who refuses to resign his seat despite having just pled guilty because he needs the $100,000+ paycheck & benefits the American taxpayers have generously afforded him. Hell, if they work really hard at it, I'm sure that the botched response to Hurricane Katrina was somehow Bill Clinton's fault, too.

We also see a report that the most deluded Radical Christian right leaders are planning a massive Sunday sermon defending the Administration that lied to & used them for political gain, while attempting to hang & quarter the messenger-- one of their own-- after his audacity in writing a book exposing the fact that they've allowed their flocks to be exploited & that they foolishly allowed themselves to be bought off with trinkets--with cufflinks & fine writing instruments.

And with respect to our candidates for Congress, we see bitter & spiteful personal attacks going largely to the personal integrity & trust issues.

Ahem, y'all! Would you like to know what them thar voters are facing right here at home--the issues we're stuggling with? For starters:

1. Huge economic disparities ~ the super-rich get super-richer, & the poor get pushed out into the streets. Record profits due to the particularly boisterous & virulent brand of crony capitalism that's sure to go down in history as the defining hallmark of this neo-revival of Robber Baronism, but it's a winner-take all sorta game, definitely not a rising tide that lifts all boats;

2. The rapidly shrinking middle class whose struggles with skyrocketing healthcare costs, poor public schools, educational debt & diminishing prospects across the board have been completely & totally ignored;

3. The enormous deficit spending that has also become a hallmark of the "party of fiscal responsibility."

When Republicons attempt to tar & feather Democrats (falsely) as the party of "cut & run" & pro-terrorism, the Dems should be retorting that the GOP is the party of "cut & spend" ~ a financial fantasyland where tax cuts & corporate welfare for those who least need it go on forever & the bills never become due. For the favored few, that is.

Yes, indeed, character counts, & we're all looking forward to November.